Very impressive show Joe you jumped in both feet wet as we say here . pretty good to enjoy a full shave with the straight... fast learner im not surprised though. :signs107
I'm trying to keep the kits stocked with a paddle & hanging strops for trying out. I recommend starting with the paddle first, then move to the hanger. Light pressure -- enough to keep the blade (spine & edge) flat on the strop. Move the blade across the strop leading with the spine, and use an X pattern to touch the entire edge along the strop. Flip the blade over on the spine, and come back to other way with the same amount of pressure. Remember, start slow, and learn how the move the blade first, then build up speed from there. Like has been mentioned, don't pay attention to the movies (poor techniques used). You have to find your own rhythm.
Report # 2 On your advice Chris I increased the angle of attack, The further I took the blade off my face the more it pulled.:mad: I used my DE with a feather for a full pass then went back to the Straight for 2 across and one against. The straight cut much better after the first reduction pass. I got a very nice close shave this way- does this give you any clues as to why I am having trouble initially ? Thanks again.
OK -- this may sound silly, but go the other way -- lying it closer to your face. Maybe, in fact, you were also scraping (like TJ) more than cutting? Also try the scything motion, and see if that helps cut through the longer, thicker growth. Keep trying! The SER vets around here should be able to get this corrected soon.
Converts! Glad to see everyone survived and is progressing! Just stay focused and the shaves will get better. Jim, I find the same thing that Chris is telling you when I shave. If I keep the spine too far from my face, it just pulls and burns. You don't want to get so close with the spine that you end up slicing skin, but you probably want to go much less than the thirty-degree angle and see if that works better.
Jim, go the other way decrease the angle. Lay the blade flat on your face then lift the spine about one spine width and start. Too much angle and you will be scrapping your mug, like the pulling feeling that got worst!!! Raf
Gentlemens, I shaved the last 3 days with the straights, but I wouldn't call them shaves...but massacres. I have to regroup and build a strategy, but I think my initial success "beginner's luck" was due to lack of growth (as it was a second shave for that day). I also had the pulling and skipping that Jim notes, and I will take heed the advice of fellas here on angle. I have to admit, at times I had the spine perpendicular to my skin Don't know how or why it got to that, but sloppy technique is to blame...thats for sure. I have been nursing my face with velva, anherb, and aloe gel......and despite the trouble, I STILL definitely look better than the bums walking around Chicago with 4 days worth of growth :happy001
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl Joe, you look a hell of a lot better than a lot of shaven Montrealers I can think of, believe me, buddy!
it's amazing how the majority of good wetshaving products sold here in Montreal are bought by tourists who come here, not by Montrealers. Most of this city's inhabitants are happy shaving the "other way", meaning Mach 3, gunk from a can, or (gulp) electric! ::ban ::ban
Be careful my friend we do not want that blade skipping!!!!!! or we will have to change your name to Faceless Joe, Lipless Joe, Earless Joe, Cheekless Joe, Noseless Joe, Facial Rescontruction by Mottern Man Joe Raf
Joe, I think we call that "survivor's joy." :rofl Seriously, you are so happy you didn't cut off anything necessary that you consider it a success, and then when you need to shave again, you really start to think about a good shave, and then it doesn't seem to measure up. I have been at this for about two months now, and just this week I have gotten what I consider consistent results, using both WTG and ATG passes. I have been using four different razors, each with slightly different characteristics, but I just now feel like I am starting to be consistent. I have also gotten to the point that a straight shave really doesn't take any longer than a DE shave, so I feel like I am making progress! Hang in there, Joe and Jim. Once you get to the point of consistency, you may never look back! Keep letting us know how it's going!
Okay -- let's talk about some more basics then. First, have both of you read The Art of The Straight Razor Shave, A Basic Guide, by Dr. Moss (especially within 24hrs of the first shaves)? Next, are you adequately stretching the skin to shave with an SER? Remember that a SER is much thicker than DE blades, and doesn't have the advantage of coatings to improve/reduce friction. When using a DE, you can get away with facial contortions alone -- not so with a SER. Again, and like everyone is saying, keep at it. It will come together eventually, and you may be surprised when it does.
Okay, Jim, I saw you switched to the Torrey 9/16, quarter-hollow grind for Day #3 (17 May 07). Any better result with the smaller blade or heavier grind?
report 3 I have to say Chris that I am very discouraged, I made 4 passes and it was very uncomfortable. My beard is very heavy, I cannot go ATG with a feather DE that has 2 shaves on it. I will give it a couple more shaves and see how it goes, I don't want to quit too soon. Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.
well, Will, you can buy AOS, or DR Harris, or C&E stuff here, plus a few other nice brands, as well as straights, and DE's and blades. The problem is, most Montrealers choose not to partake of these good things. Ah, well, that's their choice, right?
I think you might need a wedge. Wedges are way too much for my face as my beard is not heavy. Or maybe a 7/8 with a little weight behind it. Hang in there Jim we can work this out. . I'll try to find a wedge, hone it and send it your way.
Thanks for the continuing encouragement,I used my feather straight today and got a comfortable great BBS shave in 4 passes.
If Raf doesn't have one available, then I've got some I can send. I would have hoped that the Filarmonica was heavy (weight) enough. Jim, how much are you stropping? Which strop are you using? You stated before, "15X lightly." Maybe the stropping isn;t enough to sufficiently prepare the edge for the shaves? Does anyone else think the straights that I sent out just aren't sharp enough? It's certainly possible, but I would hope that I know what "sharp" is in this case. I did test shave with them before shipping, and they were fine for me.
